Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

A snow goose swimming in front of a waking flock of Sandhill Cranes in a cold December dawn at Bosque del Apache, NWR, New Mexico

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Wildlife/...IMG_9622-L.jpg

This is one of a pitifully few images from a very quick shoot at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. I had been shooting the first morning for less than an hour and a half, at about 0 (~ -18 C.) degrees F., when my wife called me on my cell phone to tell me that the furnace in our motor home was not working and that she wanted to leave immediately to get it repaired.

The repair center was a few hundred miles down the road and I never got back to the Bosque to shoot. In the frustration of packing up and leaving, I had lost the CF card with the few images that I had managed to shoot. As I was looking in my wife's desk drawer today, I found the stray CF card. So much for images that have been missing for over three years...

I have not looked at all the images but this one struck my fancy in the "Dare to Be Different" category, contrasting the white snow goose with the brownish-gray cranes. The cranes are magnificent birds with wing spans of about 5-6 feet (1.5 - 1.8 m)...

Here are some more images...

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Wildlife/...ght%2001-L.jpg

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Wildlife/...ght%2001-L.jpg

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Wildlife/...ing%2001-L.jpg

I hate losing something and it always needles at the back of my mind until I can find it. I'm sure regardless of the obstacles facing you that day, this small find made up for a short outing. Nice image.

I like it. Definitely a standout goose. Wife couldn't find a sweater? Or did you mess up and leave the keys with her?

Dan...

Happy Wife - Happy Life!

Only thing that comes to mind for the first one "one of these things doesn't belong..."
Great series. Really like the first and third shots. The mountain makes for a neat background in 3.

Remarkable shot, Richard....

And oh btw, if my husband says he'll follow me to our vacation spot after 2 days or so because of a meeting, I'd tell him that I forgot to pack his golf bag. :D:D:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rpcrowe

Dan...

Happy Wife - Happy Life!

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So true, so true. Nice set of images. The upside is that it must have been a bit like finding a few dollars you didn't know you had in the back pocket of some trousers you haven't worn in some time.

It must have been unbelievably rewarding to come upon that lost memory card.

I like to say that I never lose anything, that I only misplace stuff. The problem is that I invariably have to ask my wife to find whatever I have misplaced, which of course brings on her mandatory observation that once again I have managed to lose something.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rpcrowe

Dan...

Happy Wife - Happy Life!

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So true. And yet, sometimes no pain, no gain :D

Mike,

Finding the CF card was rewarding, yet frustrating. I was reminded of the feelings that I had when I left the Bosque after only a couple of hours shooting instead of three full days like I planned.

Following the repair of our motorhome furnace, we visited my wife's family in Texas (Georgetown; what a photographically boring place) and then drove to visit Mississippi where my Pre-Civil War ancestors lived. I did get some photo time in Natchez, which is beautiful in its antiquity but, was in a severe economic downturn. However, I will always remember those lovely Ante-Bellum mansions.

http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Travel/Na...ior%2001-L.jpg

See more at...
http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Travel/Natchez/i-Xt8GfwC

However the weather was unusually cold and we left Mississippi earlier than planned because of a very unusual blizzard that was expected. I was not able to visit the Vicksburg Battlefield where my great-great grandfather fought during the Civil War.

Very nice series Richard:)

Great series Richard,well worth the wait!

Excellent images :)

Very nice.. I especially love the 2nd image with the mountain in the background. Beautiful!

A couple more...
Snow Geese
http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Wildlife/...off%2001-L.jpg
Sandhill Cranes
http://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Wildlife/...nes%2003-L.jpg

A couple more nice ones, Richard. Keep digging around for more lost cards :)

Nice set, I like what you've done.

Nice set of shots.

I am certainly not an experienced nature photographer. I really don't have the patience for that venue... I keep telling myself that I need to go over to the ocean and shoot some pelicans for practice but, never get around to doing it...

Great pictures, Richard. So glad you found your card. I especially like the first one with the lone snow goose and the cranes in the second set. Sorry we've all missed out on the images that you would have made. :)

I'm hoping to make my first trip out to Bosque this next winter. I have lots of patience for the wildlife but I fear I don't have much patience for the crowds of photographers so hoping I can find a less busy time when there are still cranes to see. ;)